Basic Principles of Intervention

Psychotherapy can be a complex process, as noted by a number of writers in the field. Each view consists of a specific theoretical perspective with techniques espoused fromthat particular author. There are literally thousands of techniques, ranging from cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, and behavioral to hypnotic. In this article, 12 generic principles of interventions were distilled from across the field of therapeutic models. These are generic in the sense that each principle can be applied to almost any technique or therapeutic situation. The principles can be applied to techniques. These 12 principles include respect, rapport, joining, compassion, cooperation, flexibility, utilization principle, safety principle, generative change, metaphoric principle, goal orientation, and multi-level communication principle. Collectively, they provide a practical framework and guide for the practitioner to conduct the treatment in a way that is appropriate to most popular theories.